Machine for the treatment of a track

ABSTRACT

A machine for the treatment of a track extending in a longitudinal direction comprises a first machine frame and a second machine frame which are mobile on the track on undercarriages and detachably connected to one another by means of a coupling. A bridge girder, extending in the longitudinal direction and comprising lifting devices, has a first end connected to the first machine frame for rotation about a vertical axis. A second end of the bridge girder is supportable on the second machine frame and displaceable relative thereto in the longitudinal direction with the aid of guide means. By detaching the coupling, the first and second machine frames can be spaced from one another so far that rail segments may be placed upon the track by means of the lifting devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of Austrian utility modelapplication GM 38/2003, filed Jan. 29, 2003, the subject matter of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates, in general, to a machine for thetreatment of a track.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,247 describes a machine of the generic type,configured as a railroad track renewal train. In a rear section of thatmachine, a bridge-like girder equipped with working tools is arrangedwhich is displaceable relative to the machine frame in a longitudinaldirection of the track. Auxiliary undercarriages are provided at eitherend of the bridge girder, thus allowing the girder to be moved in thelongitudinal direction from a working position into a position on themachine frame for transit travel of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a machinefor treating a track which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantagesof the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type andwhich allows treating short track sections while also including thepossibility of renewing rails, if desired.

[0006] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided,in accordance with the invention, a machine for treating a trackextending in a longitudinal direction, the machine comprising:

[0007] a first machine frame having undercarriages for mobility on thetrack, a second machine frame having undercarriages for mobility on thetrack, a motive drive operatively associated with one of the first andsecond machine frames for driving along the track; and a coupling fordetachably connecting the first and second machine frames to oneanother;

[0008] a bridge girder extending in the longitudinal direction andincluding a lifting device, the bridge girder having a first endrotatably connected to the first machine frame about a substantiallyvertical axis and a second end supportable on the second machine frameand displaceable relative thereto; and

[0009] a guide device for displacing the second end on the secondmachine frame along the longitudinal direction.

[0010] In other words, the foregoing and other objects of the inventionare achieved with a machine that comprises a first machine frame havingundercarriages and a motive drive for mobility on the track; a secondmachine frame having undercarriages for mobility on the track; and acoupling for detachably connecting the first machine frame to the secondmachine frame. A bridge girder is provided, extending in thelongitudinal direction and having a first end and a second end andcomprising lifting devices, wherein the first end is connected to thefirst machine frame for rotation about a vertical axis, while the secondend is supportable on the second machine frame and displaceable relativethereto in the longitudinal direction. Guide means are provided fordisplacing the second end on the second machine frame.

[0011] A solution of this kind offers the advantage that, as a result ofthe bridge girder being displaceable on the second machine frame, it isnow possible, on the one hand, to employ the second machine frame fortransporting rails while, on the other hand, rails can be moved to andfrom the track without hindrance with the aid of the bridge girder.Subsequent to the renewal or exchange of the rails, there is the addedpossibility of carrying out a correction of the track position in thenewly treated track section, thus finalizing the track treatment, withthe aid of working units which may be located on the first machineframe.

[0012] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the guidedevice comprises flanged rollers spaced apart from one anothertransversely to the longitudinal direction, and the second machine frameincludes guide rails for rollingly supporting the flanged rollers.

[0013] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, anauxiliary undercarriage is connected to the bridge girder in a regionimmediately adjoining the second end. Preferably, the auxiliaryundercarriage is pivotally mounted to the bridge girder about an axisextending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and drivablyconnected to a pivot drive. The auxiliary undercarriage may bevertically adjustable relative to the axis.

[0014] In accordance with another feature of the invention, a work cabinis associated with the bridge girder. Preferably, the work cabin isdisposed at the second end of the bridge girder and mounted for verticaladjustment relative to the bridge girder, and which further comprises adrive for vertically adjusting the work cabin.

[0015] In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, thebridge girder is configured to be telescopically extendable in thelongitudinal direction.

[0016] Other features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in the appended claims.

[0017] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein asembodied in a machine for the treatment of a track, it is neverthelessnot intended to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope andrange of equivalents of the claims.

[0018] The construction and method of operation of the invention,however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will bebest understood from the following description of specific embodimentswhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0019] FIGS. 1-4 are side views of the machine according to theinvention, in respectively different working positions; and

[0020]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of a bridge girder oftelescopic design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there isshown, in side view, a machine 1 which is configured for the treatmentof a track 8 extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising rails6 and sleepers 7. The machine 1 is composed of a first machine frame 2and a second machine frame 4, detachably connected to one another by acoupling 3. Both machine frames 2,4 are mobile on the track 8 by meansof undercarriages 5. The first machine frame 2 is additionally equippedwith a motive drive 9, a work cabin 10, and working units 11 fortreating the track 8.

[0022] The second machine frame 4 comprises a loading area 12 to whichtwo guide rails 13 are connected, extending in the longitudinaldirection and spaced from one another transversely of the longitudinaldirection. Above the two machine frames 2 and 4, a bridge girder 14 isprovided which also extends in the longitudinal direction and has afirst end 15 and a second end 17. The first end 15 is mounted on thefirst machine frame 2 for rotation about a vertical axis 16. Theopposite, second end 17 of the bridge girder 14 is connected to, orsupported on, guide means or a guide device 18. The guide device 18includes flanged rollers 19 spaced from one another transversely of thelongitudinal direction. The flanged rollers 19 are configured forrolling on the guide rails 13 of the second machine frame 4.

[0023] In a region immediately adjoining the second end 17, the bridgegirder 14 is connected to an auxiliary undercarriage 20 (best visible inFIG. 3) which is mounted to the bridge girder 14 for pivoting about anaxis 22 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. To thatend, the auxiliary undercarriage 20 is connected to a pivot drive 21 andis vertically adjustable relative to the axis 22. Furthermore, a workcabin 23 is associated with the second end 17 of the bridge girder 14.The work cabin 23 comprises a control device 24 and is verticallyadjustable relative to the bridge girder 14 by means of a drive 25. Thebridge girder 14 is also equipped with a number of lifting devices 26,designed as trolleys, which are provided for gripping and lifting a railsegment 27 which may be transported on the loading area 12 of the secondmachine frame 4.

[0024] The mode of functioning of the machine 1 will now be described inmore detail. At the beginning of working operations, the machine 1 (withthe two machine frames 2 and 4 coupled to one another) is moved alongthe track 8 to a track section that is to be treated. After arriving atthe work site, a rail segment 27 located on the loading area 12 isgripped with the aid of the lifting devices 26 and lifted up.Thereafter, the coupling 3 is detached, and the first machine frame 2 ismoved away from the second machine frame 4 by actuation of the motivedrive 9. This causes the guide means 18 to roll on the guide rails 13until the coupling 3 at the end of the second machine frame 4 is reached(see FIG. 2). Thus, a renewal gap 28 of the track 8 is exposed in whichthe rail segment 27 can now be exchanged.

[0025] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the second end 17 of the bridge girder14 may be supported on the track 8 by means of the auxiliaryundercarriage 20 which has been pivoted downward with the aid of thepivot drive 21. Thus, the second machine frame 4 is freed and may now bedriven away from the work site or the renewal gap 28 for transportingoff old rail segments 27 or for bringing on new rail segments 27 to beinstalled in the track 8.

[0026] As soon as the second machine frame 4 has again returned to therenewal gap 28, the flanged rollers 19 of the guide means 18 are mountedon the guide rails 13, and the first machine frame 2 is reconnected tothe second machine frame 4 with the aid of the coupling 3 (see FIG. 4).Thereafter, the exchanged old rail segment 27, suspended from the bridgegirder 14, can be lowered and deposited on the loading area 12.

[0027] As a finalizing step in the treatment of the track 8, the tracksection which has now been provided with new rail segments 27 may beoptimized with regard to the track position. This is carried out withthe aid of the working units 11 provided on the first machine frame 2,having the shape of a tamping unit and a track lifting unit. For transittravel of the machine 1 from the work site, the work cabin 23 is loweredby means of the drive 25.

[0028] Finally, as indicated in FIG. 5, the bridge girder 14 may also beconfigured for telescopic elongation in the longitudinal direction inorder to thereby extend the renewal gap 28.

[0029] While the invention has been illustrated and described asembodied in a machine for the treatment of a track, it is not intendedto be limited to the details shown since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

I Claim:
 1. A machine for treating a track extending in a longitudinaldirection, the machine comprising: a first machine frame havingundercarriages for mobility on the track; a second machine frame havingundercarriages for mobility on the track; a motive drive operativelyassociated with one of said first and second machine frames for drivingalong the track; a coupling for detachably connecting said first andsecond machine frames to one another; a bridge girder extending in thelongitudinal direction and including a lifting device, said bridgegirder having a first end connected to said first machine frame and asecond end supportable on said second machine frame and displaceablerelative thereto; and a guide device for displacing said second end onsaid second machine frame along the longitudinal direction.
 2. Themachine according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said bridgegirder is rotatably connected to said first machine frame about asubstantially vertical axis.
 3. The machine according to claim 1,wherein said guide device comprises flanged rollers spaced apart fromone another transversely to the longitudinal direction, and said secondmachine frame includes guide rails for rollingly supporting said flangedrollers.
 4. The machine according to claim 1, which further comprises anauxiliary undercarriage connected to said bridge girder in a regionimmediately adjoining said second end.
 5. The machine according to claim4, wherein said auxiliary undercarriage is pivotally mounted to saidbridge girder about an axis extending perpendicularly to thelongitudinal direction, and drivably connected to a pivot drive.
 6. Themachine according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary undercarriage isvertically adjustable relative to said axis.
 7. The machine according toclaim 1, which further comprises a work cabin associated with saidbridge girder.
 8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein said workcabin is disposed at said second end of said bridge girder and mountedfor vertical adjustment relative to said bridge girder, and whichfurther comprises a drive for vertically adjusting said work cabin. 9.The machine according to claim 1, wherein said bridge girder isconfigured to be telescopically extendable in the longitudinaldirection.